Undercarriage container

ABSTRACT

A container for the underside of a motor vehicle is formed with a panel which is secured to an elongate undercarriage chassis member and extends from the chassis member to the side of the vehicle.

United States Patent 1 91 Gore Oct. 9, 1973 [54} UNDERCARRIAGE N A E3,464,606 9/1969 Nordeen 224/29 R 2,936,918 5/1960 Vais 214/454 [76]Invent 1234 3,386,765 6/1968 Drach 296/37 R Walter, Callf- 1,153,3059/1915 Heath 214/454 [22] Filed: Mar. 24, 1971 Primary Examiner-RobertJ. Spar [21] Appl' l2772l Assistant ExaminerSidney HarrisAttorney-Nilsson, Robbins, Wills & Berliner [52] U.S. Cl. 224/42.41,224/29 R, 296/37 [5l] Int. Cl. B60r 9/02 T A [58] Field of Search214/453, 454, 450; [57] ABS R CT 29 37; 2221 42 29 R 2 A container forthe underside of a motor vehicle is formed with a panel which is securedto an elongate {56] Ref Cited undercarriage chassis member and extendsfrom the UNITED STATES PATENTS chassis member to the side of thevehicle. 1,453,362 5/1923 Loveland 224/42.41 X 7 Claims, 4 DrawingFigures Patented Oct. 9, 1973 INVENTOR. [snnc E. (5025.

Al/LSSOAI, ease/Ms, was a BEEL/A/E/Q UNDERCARRIAGE CONTAINER FIELD OFTHE INVENTION The fields of art to which the invention pertains includethe fields of auxiliary article compartments for land vehicles andunderslung vehicle attachedpackage and article carriers.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the growing popularity ofcamping, it has become common to outfit motor vehicles of the autobus ordelivery van type so as to be suitable as campers. The van is fittedinternally with sleeping quarters, dining'areas, and sometimes cookingfacilities, all with a view toward carrying as much comfort andconvenience facilities as possible. Typically, every inch of availablespace is utilized to its capacity. The autobus or rear-engine van havinga generally flat bottom is particularly useful in providing a largeamount of storage space relative to the size of the vehicle.

The present invention creates additional storage space for a motorvehicle and is particularly useful with a flat bottom autobus ordelivery van as above described. In particular, the present inventionutilizes an undercarriage chassis member running lengthwise of thevehicle. A panel is pivotally connected between the chassis member andthe side of the vehicle and defines a container with the bottom of thevehicle. Specifically, a rear support member is secured dependent from achassis member which is spaced inwardly from the side of the vehicle. Abottom panel is pivotally connected to the rear support member, spaceddownwardly from the vehicle underside a distance defining the depth ofthe container, and extending toward the side member where it isreleasably secured. An elongate face panel extends upwardly from thebottom panel and carries a sleeve lock on each end which engages a studcarried by an elongate coincident bar secured dependent from the side ofthe vehicle. A pair of end panels secured to the chassis member enclosethe container when the panel is pivoted to its uppermost position.

While a variety of undercarriage containers have been proposed for motorvehicles, none have provided a container having as much facility andready access as the present container. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos.1,049,951, 2,607,518, 3,019,047 and 3,259,423. One of the advantages ofthe present structure is that it can be constructed as wide as theloading door of the vehicle. Accordingly, awnings for the doorway can bereadily stored ,within the container which provides ready access to theawnings when it is desired to attach them to the vehicle. As a result ofthe unique construction provided herein, the container does not extend asignificant distance below the chasis member, but in view of the depthof the chassis member, the bottom panel of the container is spaced asubstantial distance from the underside of the vehicle, creating auseful amount of new storage space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a rear-enginedelivery van in corporating a container in accordance with thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the container ofthis invention, secured in place, showing the container open;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container and connectingcomponents of the vehicle, taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, in the directionof the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism utilized herein,taken on line 4-4 of FIG 3, in the direction of the arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As required,.a detailed illustrative embodiment ofthe invention is disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood thatthis embodiment merely exemplifies the invention which may take manyforms substantially different from the specific illustrative embodimentdis closed. Therefore, specific structural and functional details arenot to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated one form of compactdelivery van 10 of the type which is readily converted for use as acamper or the like. The van 10 includes a chassis, one member 12 beingshown in FIG. 2, supporting a generally flat floor 14 and the vehiclebody. The body includes side panels 16 which define the width of the van10 and which extend from the roof 18 to the floor 14. A sill 20 isformed ofa metal channel having an upright lip 22 which is secured to acorresponding lip 24 upright from the floor 14. The sill 20 extends fromthe rear wheel well 26 to the forward wheel well 28. The outer surface30 of the sill is flush with the lower edge of the side panels 16 andthe top surface 32 constitutes a floor for the door 34.

Referring additionally to FIG. 3, additional storage space for the van10 is created by taking advantage of the space allowance between theflat floor 14 of the vehicle and the undercarriage chassis components.In particular, the van includes an elongate chassis member runninglengthwise of the van 10 and which is spaced inwardly a substantialdistance from the sill 20. A bottom panel 36 is connected via a pivotassembly to the chassis member 12 and extends to the side of the vehicleto define a compartment 40.

The chassis member 12 is a metal channel having a lower leg 42 formedwith a dependent lip 44. The pivot assembly 38 includes a rear supportmember 46 in the shape of an elongate angle iron having an upright leg52 and horizontal leg 54. The rear support member 46 is secured by meansof bolts 48 and nuts 50 through the member 46 and chassis member leg 42at their opposite ends, so that the support member upright leg 52 abutsthe chassis member lip 44. The horizontal leg 54 is spaced downwardlyfrom the chassis member leg 42 by means of spacers 56 through which thebolts 48 are disposed.

One leaf of a piano hinge 58, arranged to pivot downwardly, is securedby screws, or by spot welding, to the horizontal support member leg 54to constitute the pivot assembly 38. The other leaf of the hinge 58 issimilarly secured to the inner edge of the bottom container panel 36.The sides of the panel 36 are turned up to form edge panels 60 and 62and the front of the panel 36 is turned up to form a face panel 64.Support cords 66 and 68 connect the outer ends of the edge panels 60 and62 to the vehicle floor 14, at. 70 and 72, to thereby limit the extentof downward pivot of the bottom panel 36.

The sill 20 is formed with a dependent lip 74 and an elongate fixing bar76 is secured lengthwise of the lip 72 by screws or spot welds or thelike so as to depend from the sill 20. When the bottom panel 36 ispivoted to a closed position, the face panel 64 rides over the fixingbar 76. The fixing bar 76 is formed at opposite ends with a pair ofapertures 78 and 80. Referring additionally to FIG. 4, a threaded stud82 is carried by a bridging bracket 84 rearwardly of each aperture 78and 80. Thestud is welded at 86 to the inner surface of the brakcet 84and the bracket is secured by grommets 88, or the like, rearwardly ofthe fixing bar 76. The face panel is formed with a pair of openings,such as at 90, coincident, when closed, with the openings 78 and 80through the fixing bar. A double barrel sleeve lock 92, having athreaded inner sleeve 94, is secured within each opening so that whenthe bottom panel is moved upwardly to its closed poistion, the sleeve 94engages the threaded stud 82 carried rearwardly of the fixing bar 76. Byturning the key 96, the inner sleeve 94 is rotated until the face panel64 is flush with the fixing bar 76, closing the container.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of end closing panels 97are secured by bolting or by welding to the undercarriage chassis membr12 so as to jut outwardly in extension to the rear surface of the sill20, thereby providing lateral enclosure for the container when thebottom panel 36 is in its upright position.

Referring specifically to FIG. 1, the container juts only a smalldistance below the normal bottom edge line of the vehicle, and, In thisinstance, sits between a pair ofjack inserts 98 and 100 on oppositesides of the door 34. It will be seen that the container, defined by thecomponents as above described, is as wide as the door and canadvantageously be utilized to store an awning, or the like, for thedoor. In use, one need merely open the locks 92 and the bottom panel 36pivots downwardly to expose the contents of the container. The rearsupport member, as a result of its spacing downwardly from the chassismember 12, provides a fixed shelf for poles and the like. In order toclose the container one need merely lift the bottom panel 36 and securethe locks 92.

In an exemplary installation, the bottom panel 36 is about 47 incheslong, and about 14 inches wide, the bottom leg 54 of the rear supportmember is about 3 inches wide, and the container is about 8 inches deepat its back and about 7 inches deep at its front. Accordingly, about 3%cubic feet of additional space is provided.

I claim:

1. In a van-type motor vehicle having a side door and a floor and havinga lower side member as its outermost member and an elongateundercarriage chassis member spaced inwardly from said side member, eachrunninglengthwise of said vehicle, the improvement forming a containerfor said vehicle, comprising:

a rear support elongate member extending the length of said container;

means for connecting said rear suport member to said chassis member;

a bottom panel pivotally connected to said rear support member, spaceddownwardly from said vehicle floor and extending toward said sidemember, said bottom panel having upstanding panel members at each endthereof and located parallel to and on the outside of end panels in theclosed position thereof;

end panels on opposite sides of said bottom panel, ex-

tending from said chassis member to said side member, said end panelsbeing vertical and fixed relative to said chassis member and said sidemember;

the floor of said vehicle constituting a top panel for said container;and

a face panel extending from said bottom panel at said side member andmeans for releasably securing said face panel to said side member toclose said container, said face panel being fixed to, and extendingupwardly from, the outer edge of said bottom panel in its closedposition;

the outermost portion of said container being below and in verticalalignment with the door of said vehicle; and

said chassis member, said end panels and said lower side memberconstituting four fixed walls of said container.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said end panels aresecured independently of said bottom panel.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which said securing meanscomprises an elongate bar depending from said side member and anelongate face panel extending from said bottom panel into engagementwith said bar. 7 WWW 4. The invention according to claim 3 including asleeve lock carried by said face panel, said bar defining an opening forsaid lock, and including a stud carried rearwardly of said bar forengagement with said lock.

5. The invention according to claim 1 in which said rear support memberdepends from said chassis member a distance from said vehicle undersidedefining, together with the depth of said chassis member, the depth ofsaid container.

6. The invention according to claim 1 in which said rear support memberextends toward said side member a distance at least the width of saidchassis member to define a shelf for said container.

7. The invention according to claim 1 in which said bottom panel ispivotally connected to said rear supsaid container.

1. In a van-type motor vehicle having a side door and a floor and havinga lower side member as its outermost member and an elongateundercarriage chassis member spaced inwardly from said side member, eachrunning lengthwise of said vehicle, the improvement forming a containerfor said vehicle, comprising: a rear support elongate member extendingthe length of said container; means for connecting said rear suportmember to said chassis member; a bottom panel pivotally connected tosaid rear support member, spaced downwardly from said vehicle floor andextending toward said side member, said bottom panel having upstandingpanel members at each end thereof and located parallel to and on theoutside of end panels in the closed position thereof; end panels onopposite sides of said bottom panel, extending from said chassis memberto said side member, said end panels being vertical and fixed relativeto said chassis member and said side member; the floor of said vehicleconstituting a top panel for said container; and a face panel extendingfrom said bottom panel at said side member and means for releasablysecuring said face panel to said side member to close said container,said face panel being fixed to, and extending upwardly from, the outeredge of said bottom panel in its closed position; the outermost portionof said container being below and in vertical alignment with the door ofsaid vehicle; and said chassis member, said end panels and said lowerside member constituting four fixed walls of said container.
 2. Theinvention according to claim 1 in which said end panels are securedindependently of said bottom panel.
 3. The invention according to claim1 in which said securing means comprises an elongate bar depending fromsaid side member and an elongate face panel extending from said bottompanel into engagement with said bar.
 4. The invention according to claim3 including a sleeve lock carried by said face panel, said bar definingan opening for said lock, and including a stud carried rearwardly ofsaid bar for engagement with said lock.
 5. The invention according toclaim 1 in which said rear suppOrt member depends from said chassismember a distance from said vehicle underside defining, together withthe depth of said chassis member, the depth of said container.
 6. Theinvention according to claim 1 in which said rear support member extendstoward said side member a distance at least the width of said chassismember to define a shelf for said container.
 7. The invention accordingto claim 1 in which said bottom panel is pivotally connected to saidrear support member by a piano hinge extending the length of saidcontainer.